“A Disaster Foretold – And Ignored”: Revisiting the 1st-ever Cybersecurity Hearing

Flickr Photos

Revisiting the First-Ever Congressional Cybersecurity Hearing
A 20th Anniversary of the Infamous “L0pht” Hearing

This event is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy in conjunction with…

the Congressional Internet Caucus &
the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus

The Co-Chairs of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus are:
Senator Cory Gardner | Senator Mark Warner

 

The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus are:
Senator John Thune | Senator Patrick Leahy
Congressman Bob Goodlatte | Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo

In May 1998 several hackers appeared before a Senate committee and bluntly told the Senators on the dais that the networks of computers and software were terribly insecure. The headline for a relatively recent Washington Post article commemorating the hearing pronounced “A DISASTER FORETOLD — AND IGNORED.” The subtitle of the article read, “LOpht’s warnings about the Internet drew notice but little action.” (C-SPAN hearing video here).

The witness table name plates for the hackers’ displayed their L0pht hacker community handles — “Space Rogue,” “Kingpin,” and “Mudge.” Looking back, the panelists seem almost prophetic on the many concerns of which they warned the Senators.

Join us on Tuesday, May 22 for a 20th anniversary look back at the L0pht hearing. You’ll hear from several of the original hearing witnesses on what, if anything, has changed in cybersecurity since their chilling testimony two decades ago.

 

Peiter "Mudge" Zatko Photo

Peiter “Mudge” Zatko testifies at the L0pht hearing in May 1998

Watch the original hearing on YouTube here.

Speakers

 

Joe "Kingpin" Grand photo

Joe “Kingpin” Grand
Product Designer and Founder
Grand Idea Studio
 

Cris "Space Rogue" Thomas photo

Cris “Space Rogue” Thomas
X-Force Red Global Strategy Lead
IBM
 

Chris "Weld Pond" Wysopal photo

Chris “Weld Pond” Wysopal 
Chief Technology Officer
Veracode
 

Peiter "Mudge" Zatko photo

Peiter “Mudge” Zatko
Chairperson
Cyber-ITL

When: Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 3:30 pm
Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2237
RSVP: Via Eventbrite
Follow: @NetCaucusAC | #L0pht20
Streaming: https://www.facebook.com/cicac/
Refreshments will be served.